With a little cry of excitement Ruth reached for her hat and bag. She was just cramming the former over her dark hair and had reached for the latter when Tom flung in at the door.
“Come on, Ruthie!” he cried. “Just time to make the train. Hullo, Uncle Jabez and good-bye. Aunt Alvirah, give me a kiss. Yes, I’ll take good care of Ruth. I will, on my sacred word of honor! And in addition I’ll see to it that she writes to you at least once a day, if not oftener. For that do I get an extra piece of pie when I come back?”
With such a flood of nonsense did Tom beguile the little old lady and eventually managed to turn the tears of parting into smiles. Then he and Ruth hurried to the car where Helen awaited them.
“Where’s Chess?” asked Ruth, noticing the absence of “Lasses.”
“We have to stop and pick him up,” Helen explained. “He wasn’t ready when we passed by before. Had to get his bag packed.”
“‘His bag packed,’” Ruth repeated, puzzled. “Why in the world would he have to pack his bag just to see you off?”
“Oh, I forgot you hadn’t heard the latest,” said Helen, with an innocent air. “Chess is going with us.”
“Going with us!” repeated Ruth helplessly. “Isn’t this sudden?”
“Well—er—yes,” agreed Helen, her eyes dancing. “But then you know Chess is like that—sort of sudden and unexpected. I think that’s why he manages to keep me interested most of the time.”
“Tom, won’t you please explain?” Ruth turned in desperation to the latter. “Helen is the most exasperating girl at times. When did Chess decide to go along with us? You didn’t say a word about it last night.”